Filament extrusion device



April 1.6, 1946. R. J. TAYLOR E1 AL FILAMENT EXTRUS ION DEVICE I ll/ All Filed June 29, 1945 INVENTORS. 5597 J 7, 1 2 0/? WESLEY W555 ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 16, 1946 FILAMENT Ex'raUs'roN navrca Robert J. Taylor,Claymont, Del., and Wesley L. Webb, Glen Moore, Pa., assignors toAmerican Viscose Corporation, Wilmington, DeL, a corporation of Delawareapplication June 29, 1943, Serial No. 492,702

8 Claims.

This invention relates to filament extrusion devices and is particularlyconcerned with a novel type of extrusion device adapted to spin aplurality of spinning materials to form filaments of different sizes,compositions or both therefrom simultaneously.

It is an object of this invention to provide an extrusion devicecomprising a plurality of filament forming orifices, certain of whichare arranged to be supplied through a separate channel from that throughwhich certain others of the orifices are fed. A further object is toprovide a multiple chambered extrusion device, at least f two chambersor two groups of chambers thereof being associated with separate feedingchannels and separate orifices or groups of orifices. A further objectis toarrange the chambers of such an extrusion device to facilitateuniform distribution of the spinning materials to the orificesassociated with either chamber or groups of chambers. A further objectis to so arrange the chambers and orifices or separate groups ofchambers and orifices that the different filaments are thoroughlyintermingled in the filamentary bundle issuing from the spinneretassociated therewith. Further objects and advantages will be apparentfrom the drawing and the description thereof.

In the drawing, illustrative of the invention,

Figure 1 is a mid-section of one embodiment of the extrusion device ofthe invention,

Figure 2 is a cross-section thereof on line IIII of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a mid-section ofanother embodimen Figure 4 is across-section on-line IV-IV-of Figure 8,

Figure 5 is a cross-section on line V-V of Figure 3, and

Figure 6 is a cross-section Figure 3.

In Figures 1 and 2, the spinneret 2 is attached on line VI-VI oi to asupply head 3 for th spinning material or solution by a coupling 4. Agasket 5 is positioned between the flange of the spinneret 2 and thesupply head I to assure a tight seal. Feed pipes 8 and I communicatewith passages 8 and 9 re- 1 spectively; A transverse partition l dividesthe space back of the spinneret face into two completely separateregions each associated with a distinct group of orifices II and withbut one of the feed passages 8 and 9. To assure that the partition illis held in proper position; it maybe secured to or be formed integrallywith a cylindrical sleeve l2 fitting within the side walls of thespinneret and of the recess l3 in the supply head 3. j a

The extrusion device of Figures 1 and 2 lends itself readily tooperation under a variety of conditions for various purposes. Forexample, lines 6 and 1 may be connected to separate pumps which may beconnected to a single spinning material supply line or to separate suppllines. Where they are connected through separate pumps to a singlesupply of spinning material, the pumps may be operated independently ofone another at diiferent speeds to yield filaments of different sizes.

Under such circumstances, the orifices associated with one of thepassages 8 or 9 may, if desired, be of different size or more numerousor both of different size and more numerous, than those associated withthe other to allow of further variation in the filaments obtained.

Where the lines 6 and l are connected with separate supplies of spinningmaterials, the filamensize or more numerous, or both of different sizeand more numerous, than those associated with the other passage. In thisarrangement, the extrusion device lends itself to thefsimultaneousspinning of two or more difierent kinds of filaments which may be of thesame or of different diameter. The several kinds of filaments may bepresent in any desired proportion since such spinning conditions asnumber of orifices, size of orifices and pump speed for each spinningmaterial are independently controllable. Thus a bundle comprising amixture of filaments formed from different viscoses, from differentcupramor a cellulose ester, such as cellulose acetate, and

the resin or ester filaments in the resulting iully set yarn or bundlemay be activated after fabricae tion by knitting, weaving, braiding,doubling and the like to produce ladderprooi' knitted structures andstable woven, braided, and corded structures. Again, solid filaments maybe formed simultaneously with hollow filaments of the same or differentconstitution. For example, filaments which may be of fine diameter maybe spun from .one solution of a copolymer of vinyl acetate and vinylchloride and hollow filaments of larger diameter may be spun from asimilar solution containing a gas generating agent and such a mixturemay be used to produce light weight filamentous mat products such as aredisclosed in the copendlng application for United States Letters Patentof Robert J. Taylor, Ser. No. 490,009 filed June 8, 1943. In general.the extrusion device finds ajwide field of usefulness in the productionof yarns and fabrics of mixed textile fila- .ments of continuous ordiscontinuous nature.

of line's.(6 and l), passages (8 and 9), and the proper partitioning ofthe space back of the spinneret face.

Figures 3 to 6 show a. modification in which the space immediately backof the spinneret face is divided by a, plurality of concentricpartitions 20 (three being shown though any number may be used) intoconcentric annular chambers Ci, Ca, Ca about a central chamber C. Thesepartitions 20 may extend from a transverse plate 2| secured in orintegrally formed in a sleeve 22 fitting within the walls of thespinneret 2 and the recess It in the supply head 3. In the space back ofthe plate 2!, there is disposed a distributor member having a transverseplate 23 from which the concentric partitions 25 extend into contactwith plate 2|. A transverse rib or partition 25 divides the space backof the plate 23 into two compartments or chambers. A locating pin 28extends from a bore in one of the walls 27 extending back of. the plate23 through a slot in sleeve 22 to a slot 28 in the supply head 3. Thislocator pin 26 is arranged so that the passages 8 and 9 are eachassociated with only one of the compartments on either side of the rib25. Passages 29 connect that one of the compartments communicating withpassage 9 with alternate regions or chambers including the centralregion or chamber between the concentric partitions while passages 30connect the other compartment communicating with passage 8 to the otherannular regions or chambers between partitions 24. Passages 3i connectcorresponding regions and chambers in front of and in back of the plate2|. The orifices 32 of the spinneret are arrangedin concentric circlesso that one circle is associated with but one of the annular chambersC1, C2, and Cs and a central orifice isassociated with the centralchamber C.

If desired, a plurality of circular rows of spinneret orifices may beassociated with a given one of the'chambers C1, C2, and C3. Thepartitions 20 and 24 may be arranged to provide any number of annularregions or chambers for spinnerets having a greater numberof circles oforifices. Also the device may be arranged to spin filaments'from three,four or more spinning materials by changing the rib partition 25 intoone of Y-shape, X-shape or other shape to divide the space back of plate23 into three, four, or more compartments andproviding additional groupsof passages similar to 29 and 30 associated with separate annularregions or chambers alternating with those associated with passages 29and 80 in any desired sequence.

As in the device of Figures 1 and 2, that of Fgures 3 to 6 is adaptableto the production of filamentary bundles composed of mixtures of aplurality of types of filaments in any desired proportions and havingany desired filament sizes. Both devices may spin mixtures of filamentsof difierent kinds and of different sizes and the filament of one typemay be of different sizes as well. The device of Figures 3 to 6 has theadvantage of more uniformly and more thoroughly intermingling thefilaments of .diiferent types and permits of close control over suchintermingling and distribution. The device of Figures 3 to 6 lendsitself to the accomplishment of all of the objectives mentioned above inconnection with the device of Figures 1 and 2.

In the claims, the terms "alternate and alternating are intended torefer to the members of a repetitive series of two or more than twomembers.

It is to be understood that changes and variations may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by theappended claims.

We claim:

l. A filament extrusion device comprising a spinneret having a pluralityof circular orifices, a space back of the spinneret face, partitionmeans comprising at least one annular partition within the spacedividing it into a plurality of chambers, each of such chamberscommunicating with a separate group of spinneret orifices, and aplurality of separate spinning material supply passages, eachcommunicating with at least one chamber separate from the remainder ofthe chambers with which the remainder of the supply passagescommunicate.

2. A filament extrusion device comprising a I spinneret having aplurality of orifices, a space back of the spinneret face, at least oneannular partition within the space dividing it into concentric chambers,each communicating with a separate group of spinneret orifices, andseparate spinning material supply passages communicating with therespective chambers.

3. A filament extrusion device comprising a spinneret having a pluralityof orifices, a space back of the spinneret face, a plurality ofgenerally annular partitions dividing the space into a plurality ofsubstantially concentric chambers each communicating with. a. separategroup of spinneret orifices, and a plurality of separate spinningmaterial supply passages each communicating with a separate group ofchambers.

4. A filament extrusion device comprising a spinneret having a pluralityof orifices, a space back of the spinneret face, a plurality ofgenerally annular partitions dividing the space into a plurality ofsubstantially concentric chambers,

each communicating with a separate group of spinneret orifices, and aplurality of separate spinning material. supply passages, each communicating witha separate group of chambers, the chambers with which oneof the passages communicates alternating with the chambers withwhich-the other passage or passages communicate. v

5. A filament extrusion device comprising a spinneret having a pluralityof concentric groups of orifices, a space back of the spinneret face, aplurality of generally annular partitions dividing the space into aplurality of'substantially concentric chambera'each communicating with aseparate group or epinneret orifices, and a plurality of separatespinning material supply passages, each communicating with a separategroup of chambers, the chambers with which one of the passagescommunicates alternating with the chambers with which the other passageor passages communicate.

, 6. A filament extrusion device comprising a spinneret having aplurality of orifices, a space back of the spinneret-face, partitionmeans comprising at least one annular partition within the spacedividing it into a plurality of chambers, distributor means back 01 thepartition m'eans dividing the space immediately in back of the partitionmeans into a plurality of regions each communicating with a separatecorresponding chamber, the distributor means also dividing the moreremote space back of the partition means into a plurality ofcompartments, passages in the distributor means, each compartment beingconnected by a separate group ofthe passages to a separate group of theregions, and a plurality of separate spinning material supply passages,each communicating with a separate compartment.

'7. A filament extrusion device comprising a spinneret having apluralityof concentric groups of orifices, a space back of the spinneret face, aplurality of generally annular partitions dividing the space into aplurality of substantially concentric chambers, distributor means backof the annular partitions dividing the space therebehind into aplurality of substantially concentric regions each communicating with aseparate corresponding chamber, a rib on the distributor means dividingthe more remote space back of the distributor means into at least twocompartments, passages in the distributor means between one of thecompartments and a group of the regions and other passage between atleast one other compartment and a separate group of the regions, and atleast two separate spinning material supply passages, each communicatingwith a separate compartment.

8. A filament extrusion device comprising a spinneret having a pluralityof concentric groups of orifices, a space back of the spinneret face, a

